Printing mechanism for electrically operated office machines

ABSTRACT

A printing arrangement for use with typewriters in which a continuously rotating type disc carries indicia on spring strip members radially arranged about the type disc. A driving shaft rotates the type disc continuously as well as a cam. Selecting hammers are provided in the proximity of the cam and strike the strip members selectively in accordance with the actuation of levers set into position with solenoids. The printing action takes place on the fly while the type disc is in continuous rotation.

United States Patent Folkens [451 Mar. 28, 1972 [54] PRINTING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED OFFICE MACHINES [72] Inventor: Dieter Folkens, Wilhelmshaven, Germany [73] Assignee: Olympia Werke AG, Wilhelmshaven, Germany [22] Filed: Nov.6, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 874,602

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 7, 1968 Germany ..P 18 07 387.5

[52] US. Cl ..197/53, 101/93 [51] Int. Cl. ..B4lj l/32 [58] Field ofSearch ..197/18, 53, 49, 48, 6.6, 55; 101/93, 111

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,236,663 4/1941 Adams ..197/53 2,927,676 3/1960 Abbondanza ..197/6.6

3,128,693 4/1964 Thiemann ..101/93 3,168,182 2/1965 Bernard et al. 197/55 3,220,343 11/1965 Wasserman ..101/111 X 3,227,258 1/1966 Dannier et a1. ..197/6.6 3,289,805 12/1966 Kleinschmidt et a1. 1 97/1 8 3,295,652 1/1967 Sasaki ..197/53 3,388,782 6/1968 Schwend.. 1 97/49 3,534,847 10/1970 Wilcox ..197/53 X Primary Examiner-Ernest T. Wright, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-R. T. Rader Anomey-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A printing arrangement for use with typewriters in which a continuously rotating type disc carries indicia on spring strip members radially arranged about the type disc. A driving shaft rotates the type disc continuously as well as a cam. Selecting hammers are provided in the proximity of the cam and strike the stripmembers selectively in accordance with the actuation of levers set into position with solenoids. The printing action takes place on the fly while the type disc is in continuous rotation.

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PRINTING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED OFFICE MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printing mechanism for electrical office machines and in particular to typewriters. Printing is accomplished on the fly through a continuously rotating type disc having spring strips mounted in the axial direction, and a cam with movable selecting hammers within the region of the cam.

A disc-shaped type carrier produced of spring material is known in the art. Such a type carrier has a number of printing type at its circumference periphery, and corresponding to the different printing types, radial laminations are provided upon which the printing type is secured. This known arrangement, however, is designed for stepwise operation of a manually operated typewriter, and cannot be used in any way to meet the requirements of a rapid printing mechanism for electrically controlled office machines.

It is also known in the art to use continuously rotating type carriers having printing characters at its circumference or periphery. In such known arrangement, impact hammers are accelerated through cams, depending upon the type to be printed. These impact hammers press the paper against the printing type face. This arrangement is very complex, as known in the art, since a complete type wheel with all type faces must be provided for every column to be printed. An imact hammer and cam with all associated mechanisms must, moreover, be provided in conjunction with these type wheels. The paper, furthermore, must be freely arranged between the type wheel and the impact hammer or type ribbon, and requires thereby precise guidance.

It is also known in the art to have a continuously rotating cylindrically shaped type carrier with radially movable type stampers in front of a paper roll. These type stamping elements are accelerated from the interior of the type cylinder, in a radial direction towards the exterior. The accelerating action is realized through an electromagnetically actuated hammer. The use of this arrangement for a rapid printing mechanism is not possible since the large mass of the type stamping elements, the printing hammers and the type cylinder, limit severely the printing speed or printing velocity.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide for rapid and reliable printing mechanism having a minimum of parts and avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages.

The preceding object of the present invention is achieved by providing a type disc upon a common rotational axle and associated with an axially operated cam. Actuating levers for actuating the selecting hammers within the region of the cam are also provided. The arrangement is such that the selecting hammers cause the printing of the type faces mounted on the strips of the type disc. The present invention solves in a simple manner the problem of reducing the weight and size of the movable parts to the extent that only a very slight amount of inertia must be overcome. The present invention, furthermore, provides two selecting hammers acting upon the type disc and being identical in design. Through such two selecting hammers, one printing action may be carried out with one selecting hammer, and the next printing action may be carried out with the other selecting hammer before the moving parts associated with the previous printing action have returned to their reset or initial position. By resorting to this design with the use of two selecting hammers, the printing speed may be substantially increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A printing arrangement for use in typewriters for applying indicia on paper on the typewriter roll, while on the fly. The printing indicia are carried on a type disc which has a laminar structure through spring strip members. A common driving shaft rotates continuously the type disc as well as a cam. Movable selecting hammers are actuated in the proximity of the cam and strikes selectively the strip members carrying the indicia on the type disc. Two actuating levers are linked to the selecting hammers and actuate these hammers upon being moved into position through selecting solenoids. A common printing hammer, furthermore, is situated between the selecting hammers and the type disc.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a sectional view and shows the assembled structure of the printing mechanism, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. la is a frontal view of the cross-slide supporting member;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the printing mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a functional view of the control mechanism for selecting indicia for printing through the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a synchronizing arrangement for selectively printing with the mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan and end view of the type disc, and shows the laminar structure through which the indicia are carried on spring strip members;

FIG. 6 is a functional electrical schematic diagram and shows the electrical control circuitry for actuating the printing hammer through which the indicia are selectively printed by the mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing the structural relationship between the mechanical actuating elements for selectively printing indicia; and

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are sectional views of the construction of the switching devices used in conjunction with the control circuitry ofFIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing, the rotational motion of a driving shaft 13 is transmitted to a cam 7 through bevel gears 11 and 12. The cam 7 is mounted on a bushing 9 held in a housing 10. The bevel gear 12 is slidably mounted upon the driving shaft 13, so that it is slidable along the longitudinal axis of this shaft through the notch 13a and spring 14. This longitudinal motion of the bevel gear 12 along the driving shaft 13 is provided so that it may follow the motion of the printing mechanism parallel to the paper roll 40.

A type disc 1, shown in FIG. 5, has printing type 2 arranged on radial carrying strips forming a laminated structure. Thus, these radial strips la carry the printing type 2. The type disc 1 is mounted between two mounting discs 3 and 4 so that the disc 1 abuts with preset tensioned stress against the larger mounting disc 4. A cross-slide 5,6 is arranged between the cam 7 and the type disc 1. This cross-slide 5,6 transmits the rotational motion of the cam to the type disc. The cross-slide 5,6 is guided by a carrying member 8 or supporting member 8 which provides vertical motion parallel to the paper roll 40. With this motion of the member 8, a precise or true angular transfer from, for example, lower case to upper case characters takes place during uninterrupted rotation of the type disc 1. The vertical motion of the supporting member 8 is provided through the combination of the slots 8a in the member 8 and the pins 8b riding within the slots 8a and serving to guide the member 8 in its vertical path of motion. The member 8 is lifted or allowed to be lowered through the rods 8c. It is, of course, also possible to provide the type disc 1 with a double number of printing type strips, so that the transfer from upper case to lower case and vice versa, may be avoided. When this latter design is resorted to, the application of the intermediate crossslide member is unnecessary.

A selecting rocker arm or reciprocating member 20 lies against an abutment 21 and extends for the entire length of the machine. The member 20 as in operative connection with the lugs or projections 18a of two actuating levers 18. When moving towards the left, direction A, or towards the right, direction B, in FIG. 1, the member 20 moves or rotates one of the two actuating levers 18 in the downward direction. Two selecting hammers 16 are linked with the actuating levers. Through the downward motion of the actuating lever 18, one of these selecting hammers 16 is brought into the operative re gion of the axially directed lug or projection of the cam 7. For purposes of maintaining clarity, only one actuating lever 18 and one selecting hammer 16 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A printing hammer 17 is arranged common to both selecting hammers 16, and the latter is driven against this printing hammer 17. The energy received by the printing hammer 17 is transmitted to the selected printing type 2 of the type disc 1, so that printing action takes place on the fly. The abutment blade member 41 receives the printing hammer 17 and tosses it back into its reset position. At the same time, the printing type 2 is brought back into its reset position through the vibrational energy of the paper roll 40 and the spring force of the strips or laminations la. The resetting of the selecting hammer l6 and actuating lever 18 from the operative region of the lug 15 and towards an abutment 19, is accomplished through a spring 24.

Since two selecting hammers 16 as well as two actuating levers 18 are provided, only one lug or projection 15 on the cam 7 is required for each two strips or laminations 1a of the type disc 1. Through this arrangement, the selecting hammer 16 has a longer time duration made available for falling in place. The selective actuation of the selecting hammer 16 through the actuating lever 18 and selecting member 20, is achieved through electromagnets or solenoids 25 and 26, shown in FIG. 3. The selecting member 20 is connected to a positioning disc 22, and the electromagnets or solenoids and 26 cause the positioning disc 22 to rotate through tension links 27 and 28. Rotation of the positioning disc 22 is applied against the force of a coil spring 23.

The electromagnets or solenoids 25 and 26 are controlled through a synchronizing arrangement shown in FIG. 4. This synchronizing arrangement is also operated through the driving shaft 13. The driving shaft 13 is held within a bearing bushing 38 mounted within a synchronizing housing 37. A disc 29 is mounted upon the shaft 13 and contains two brushes 30 and 31 adjacently located but displaced 180 degrees from each other. Springs 32 and 33 act upon the brushes 30 and 31 or sliders 30 and 31, so that they are in electrical contact with a metallic bushing 34.

The two sliding elements 30 and 31 rotate within the synchronizing housing 37, so that one sliding element 30 picks up a collector 36 in FIG. 4. The printing type 2 is associated with selecting segments 39. If a key 42 of the machine is actuated and a low voltage is applied, through a contact 43, to the associated selection segment 39, then this voltage is applied to an undivided slip ring through the passage of the sliding element 30, the spring 32, bushing 34, spring 33 and sliding element 31.

The pulse is extended within circuits 45 and 46 which are conventional in form and are not described further, for this reason. After being extended and amplified appropriately within the circuits 45 and 46, the pulses are applied to the two electromagnets or solenoids 25 and 26, so that they become energized thereby. The key 42 which was actuated beforehand, determines which one of the electromagnets or solenoids 25 and 26 is to become energized. At the same time, the actuated key 42 closes the circuit to the selected electromagnet or solenoid, through another contact 44, while applying the voltage to a selection segment 39. The synchronizing housing 37 must assume a definite position in relation to the disc 29, in order that the electromagnets or solenoids 25 and 26 are energized at the instant of time that the selected printing type 2 lies in front of the printing hammer 17.

In FIG. 7 to 9, more details of the embodiment, shown in FIG. 1 to 6 are illustrated.

FIG. 7 shows, in an exploded view, the arrangement of actuating levers 18, selecting hammers 16 and printing hammer 17 together with cam 7 and type disc 1. It is seen, that two actuating levers 18 are arranged parallel to each other and are rotatable around their borings 64,68. The levers 18 are each carrying a head 62,65 of concave form with an enlargement 66 on the left end of their arms 63,67. In the middle part of the arms 63,67, upward-directed lugs or projections are provided in such a manner that the lug or projection 18a of one lever 18 is placed at a distance equal to the width of the reciprocating member 20 from the lug or projection 18a of the other lever 18. It is apparent that rotating of the reciprocating member 20 in direction A moves one of the levers l8, and rotation in direction B" moves the other lever 18 downwards.

In FIG. 7, both selecting hammers 16 are seen in functional arrangement. They are positioned above each other with a space between them, and they extend with their shoulders 54,58 below the enlargements 66 of the actuating levers 18. The nose frontal portions 56,60 are then located above the lugs or projections 15 of cam 7. The selecting hammers 16 are supported in a clamping device 69 by means of elastic connections, e.g., wires 57,61 of spring steel. The clamping device 69 is provided with a bore 70 for fixing to the housing 10. In operation each downward movement of actuating lever 18 forces its accompanying selecting hammer 16 via enlargement 66 and shoulder 54,58 also downwards, whereupon its nose portion 56,60 comes within the operative region of the lugs or projections 15 of the cam 7. Afterwards selecting hammer 16 is thrown towards the type disc 1 through impact with the passing projection 15.

The printing hammer 17 in FIG. 7, consists of an elastic arm 52 with a bore 53 and a pressure plate 51 with a projection 71. The bore 53 is provided for fastening the printing hammer 17 to the housing 10. One of the selecting hammers 16, when thrown towards the type disc 1 by cam 7, will strike against printing hammer 17 with its projection 55,59. Hammer 17 is thereby forced against a radial strip 111 of the type disc 1 with its projection 71, and this causes printing of the printing type In FIG. 8 and 9 the synchronizing arrangement is illustrated in two further views. In FIG. 8 the synchronizing arrangement is shown in the front view. Shaft 13 acts, simultaneously as the driving shaft of the bevel gears 12,1 1 for transmitting the rotation to the cam 7, and for driving the disc 29. The synchronizing housing 37 is nonrotatably mounted on frame 47 and the driving shaft 13 rotates within a bushing 38 (FIG. 4). Furthermore, a concentric collector 36 is mounted within the interior of the housing 37, consisting alternatingly of conducting 39 and insulating 72 segments. In axial direction behind the collector 36 and separated by an insulating ring, a continuous conducting slip ring 35 is mounted. (Illustrated in FIG. 9, where the synchronizing arrangement is shown in a sectional near view.

In the cavity of the synchronizing housing 37, is disc 29, mounted upon the driving shaft 13 and rotating with it. Two brushes 30,31 slide within two radial bores displaced 180 from each other. The brushes 30,31 are pressed against the collector 36 or the slip ring 35 respectively by springs 32,33, so that they are in electrical contact. The other ends of the springs 32,33 are pressed against a metallic bushing 34, located concentric with the interior of the disc 29 and producing an electrically conducting connection between spring 32 and spring 33.

It is apparent that when contact 43 is actuated by key 42, current flows through conductor 48 to a conducting segment 39, and then to brush 30, spring 32, metallic bushing 34, spring 33, brush 31 and slip ring 35. From there the current flows (as described) to circuits 45,46, to electromagnets 25,26 and back to a contact 44, which has been also actuated by key 42.

From FIG. 6, 8 and 9 it is apparent, in which way the adjacent conducting segments 39 apply the current to the electromagnet 25,26, which were not just used previously. If, for example, magnet 25 has been energized through segment 39, then the adjacent segment 39 will apply the current to magnet 26, if the corresponding key has been actuated. In accordance with the energization of the magnets 25,26, the reciprocating member 20 will swing either to the left or the right, whereby the front and the rear actuating levers 18 (in FIG. 7) are moved accordingly.

It is for this reason that the mechanism has the double time duration for actuating adjacent printing types 2.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in printing mechanisms for electrically operated machines, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A printing arrangement comprising, in combination, a

continuously rotatable type disc with printing indicia on the face of said disc; radially-shaped spring strip members distributed about the face of said disc for carrying said printing indicia; a continuously rotatable driving shaft for rotating said type disc; cam means with cam projections mounted on said driving shaft; selecting hammer means movable within the path of said cam projectionsso that said selecting hammer means is struck by said cam projections when said selecting hammer means is moved within the path of motion of said cam projections, said selecting hammer means selectively striking said strip members on said disc when said selecting hammer means is struck by said projections; and actuating lever means for moving said selecting hammer means into the path of motion of said cam projections, whereby said indicia are printed on the fly on a predetermined surface while said type disc is continuously rotating.

2. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said selectinghammer means comprises two selecting hammers and said actuating lever means comprises two actuating levers, one of said cam projections being cooperatively operable with said two actuating levers and said two selecting hammers and two strip members of said type disc for striking said two strip members in succession so that one strip member is struck after the other strip member is struck.

3. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 2 including printing hammer means between said type disc and said two selecting hammers, said printing hammer means being struck against said type disc when said selecting hammers are struck.

4. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 3 including two selecting solenoids for moving said two actuating levers selectively; and a swingable selecting member operatively linked with said actuating levers and said solenoids so that when one of said selecting solenoids is energized one actuating lever is set into motion.

5. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 1 including a cross-slide member between said type disc and said cam means; and supporting means for applying vertical displacement to said cross-slide member and said type disc, whereby different indicia are selectable for printing.

6. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 1 including bevel gear means for driving said type disc and said cam means.

7. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 6 wherein said bevel gear means comprises a bevel pinion and a driven bevel gear, said driven bevel gear being axially slidable along said driving shaft, said driving shaft having a notch and spring means for axial sliding motion of said driven bevel gear on said shaft.

8. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 4 including two sliding elements rotating with said driving shaft; electrically conductive selection segment elements in electrical contact with said sliding elements for preselecting said solenoids.

9. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 1 including means for rendering said type disc interchangeable with type discs carrying different indicia.

10. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 4 including a positioning disc for positioning said movable selecting member and operatively connected with said solenoids. 

1. A printing arrangement comprising, in combination, a continuously rotatable type disc with printing indicia on the face of said disc; radially-shaped spring strip members distributed about the face of said disc for carrying said printing indicia; a continuously rotatable driving shaft for rotating said type disc; cam means with cam projections mounted on said driving shaft; selecting hammer means movable within the path of said cam projections so that said selecting hammer means is struck by said cam projections when said selecting hammer means is moved within the path of motion of said cam projections, said selecting hammer means selectively striking said strip members on said disc when said selecting hammer means is struck by said projections; and actuating lever means for moving said selecting hammer means into the path of motion of said cam projections, whereby said indicia are printed on the fly on a predeTermined surface while said type disc is continuously rotating.
 2. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said selecting hammer means comprises two selecting hammers and said actuating lever means comprises two actuating levers, one of said cam projections being cooperatively operable with said two actuating levers and said two selecting hammers and two strip members of said type disc for striking said two strip members in succession so that one strip member is struck after the other strip member is struck.
 3. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 2 including printing hammer means between said type disc and said two selecting hammers, said printing hammer means being struck against said type disc when said selecting hammers are struck.
 4. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 3 including two selecting solenoids for moving said two actuating levers selectively; and a swingable selecting member operatively linked with said actuating levers and said solenoids so that when one of said selecting solenoids is energized one actuating lever is set into motion.
 5. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 1 including a cross-slide member between said type disc and said cam means; and supporting means for applying vertical displacement to said cross-slide member and said type disc, whereby different indicia are selectable for printing.
 6. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 1 including bevel gear means for driving said type disc and said cam means.
 7. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 6 wherein said bevel gear means comprises a bevel pinion and a driven bevel gear, said driven bevel gear being axially slidable along said driving shaft, said driving shaft having a notch and spring means for axial sliding motion of said driven bevel gear on said shaft.
 8. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 4 including two sliding elements rotating with said driving shaft; electrically conductive selection segment elements in electrical contact with said sliding elements for preselecting said solenoids.
 9. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 1 including means for rendering said type disc interchangeable with type discs carrying different indicia.
 10. The printing arrangement as defined in claim 4 including a positioning disc for positioning said movable selecting member and operatively connected with said solenoids. 